We offer interactive School DEI Workshops and Professional Training
built around our award-winning method: The Birth Game.
Empowering School Communities
LEF International equips your school with interactive student workshops and "Train the Trainer" programs for faculty. Using The Birth Game, we make all forms of diversity and discrimination discussable, tangible, and educational. These activities integrate seamlessly into PSHE and Global Citizenship curriculums.
Customized Workshops & Professional Development
Real inclusion begins with the professionals who guide, teach, and support others. Our workshops are designed to equip teams with the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to create truly inclusive environments. Using the award-winning Birth Game, we combine experiential learning with real-world cases to deepen understanding, reduce stereotyping, and strengthen communication across diverse groups.
Whether your team works in education, care, counselling, or another professional sector, our sessions offer practical tools to recognise bias, build empathy, and address sensitive topics in a safe and structured way. Each workshop is tailored to your context and focuses on embedding DEI practices into everyday professional life.
Who We Are
LEF International was founded by Dutch educators Carolien Kruijs and Sandy Kardolus, driven by the need for meaningful, hands-on tools to address inclusion and diversity in schools. We don’t just talk about diversity—we help students and teams experience it.
Our approach requires “LEF,” the Dutch word for courage: the courage to be yourself, to listen to others, and to step into new perspectives. This is what sets our method apart: it transforms DEI from theory into something personal, relatable, and actionable.
Our Achievements:
• RADAR Inclusive Award 2024 – Winner (Encouragement Prize)
• Movisie Recognition – Included in the National Knowledge Platform for Inclusive Coexistence (KIS)
• Jillis Bruggeman Honourable Mention 2018 – Honoring initiatives that strengthen social inclusion
With over 2,500 sessions delivered, The Birth Game has proven its value in diverse school settings, consistently reducing stereotyping and discrimination while strengthening social safety.
Our Vision: From Talking About DEI to Experiencing It
We believe inclusion can’t be taught through lectures alone. Students and staff need experiences that spark reflection, empathy, and awareness. Our signature methodology, The Birth Game, does just that—turning abstract ideas like privilege, bias, and belonging into something tangible and memorable.
Social skills teacher specializing in bullying and violence prevention.
Sandy brings diversity and anti-bullying education to classrooms, showing the courage it takes to be yourself, especially when you’re different.
Primary school teacher and children’s book author.
Carolien believes every child deserves respect, regardless of appearance, faith, orientation, or background. “If we start with respect at a young age, the world becomes a little more beautiful.”
Educational media manager and trainer.
With global experience in Sydney, Singapore, and Bangkok. Marieke’s mission is to foster curiosity and inclusion, ensuring everyone has the space to be their best self.